Blowout preventer

ABSTRACT

A blowout preventer with a cast lift point. An eyebolt is integrally cast with the housing of the blowout preventer to enable safe lifting and positioning of the blowout preventer. A screen is also placed on the ram mechanism of the blowout preventer to protect personnel and prevent foreign objects from fouling the ram.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The current application claims priority to and the benefit of co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/662,660 filed on Apr. 25, 2018, titled “BLOWOUT PREVENTER”. This reference is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes in its entirety.

FIELD

The present embodiments generally relate to a blowout preventer.

BACKGROUND

Many systems use blowout preventers as a safety mechanism. Blowout preventers (BOPs) can prevent catastrophic failures by rapidly sealing a well or other system.

In an oil well or on a rig, blowout preventers are critical to the safety of crew and equipment. Blowout preventers are fail-safe measures in complex systems and help in the monitoring and maintenance of well integrity.

Blowout preventers are often heavy and large pieces of equipment. Often, they must be lifted by crane or other lifting devices to be placed and/or removed. A cable or rope is typically used in conjunction with attachment points on the BOP.

Often, these attachment points are screwed in to tapped openings, or welded on to the blowout preventer. This presents a weak point in the structure of the BOP and is a potential hazard when mounting or moving the BOP.

Further, in ram style blowout preventers, there is the potential to injure personnel by getting pinched by the hydraulic operator.

The present disclosure cures the above deficiencies.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The detailed description will be better understood in conjunction with the accompanying drawings as follows:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a blowout preventer according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a blowout preventer according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a blowout preventer according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 4 is a top view of a blowout preventer according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 5 is a top view of a blowout preventer according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a blowout preventer according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 7 is a cut view of a blowout preventer according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a blowout preventer according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 9 is a side view of a blowout preventer according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 10 is a side view of a blowout preventer according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a blowout preventer according to one or more embodiments.

The present embodiments are detailed below with reference to the listed Figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Before explaining the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specifics of particular embodiments as described and that it can be practiced, constructed, or carried out in various ways.

While embodiments of the disclosure have been shown and described, modifications thereof can be made by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and teachings of the disclosure. The embodiments described herein are exemplary only and are not intended to be limiting.

Specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis of the claims and as a representative basis for teaching persons having ordinary skill in the art to variously employ the present invention. Many variations and modifications of embodiments disclosed herein are possible and are within the scope of the present disclosure.

Where numerical ranges or limitations are expressly stated, such express ranges or limitations should be understood to include iterative ranges or limitations of like magnitude falling within the expressly stated ranges or limitations.

The use of the word “a” or “an” when used in conjunction with the term “comprising” in the claims and/or the specification may mean “one,” but it is also consistent with the meaning of “one or more,” “at least one,” and “one or more than one.”

The use of the term “optionally” with respect to any element of a claim is intended to mean that the subject element is required, or alternatively, is not required. Both alternatives are intended to be within the scope of the claim. Use of broader terms such as comprises, includes, having, etc. should be understood to provide support for narrower terms such as consisting of, consisting essentially of, comprised substantially of, and the like.

Accordingly, the scope of protection is not limited by the description herein, but is only limited by the claims which follow, encompassing all equivalents of the subject matter of the claims. Each and every claim is incorporated into the specification as an embodiment of the present disclosure. Thus, the claims are a further description and are an addition to the preferred embodiments of the present disclosure.

The inclusion or discussion of a reference is not an admission that it is prior art to the present disclosure, especially any reference that may have a publication date after the priority date of this application. The disclosures of all patents, patent applications, and publications cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference, to the extent they provide background knowledge; or exemplary, procedural or other details supplementary to those set forth herein.

The present disclosure relates to a blowout preventer. In embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a blowout preventer with integrally cast lift points on the housing. Blowout preventers are typically large and heavy pieces of equipment, they are often rigged with cabling to be lifted by cranes.

The cabling is typically attached to lift points on the blowout preventer. In the past, lift points have been eyebolts screwed into a tapped and threaded hole, or welded on structures. Both methods have drawbacks and pose safety hazards.

In the instance of a welded lift point, there is an inherent weak point at the weld. Not only is the weld weaker than the rest of the equipment, but imperfections in the weld, degradation of the weld, or mechanical damage can pose a significant safety risk to personnel involved in moving the blowout preventer.

When a threaded eyebolt in a tapped hole is utilized, the potential for cross-threading the eyebolt, or not fully threading the eyebolt exists.

Further, even though not a recommended practice, often the lift points on the blowout preventer are used to lift attached equipment along with the blowout preventer. This becomes even more dangerous when the lift points are not as strong as possible.

The present disclosure is a blowout preventer with a housing that has an integrally cast eyebolt for a lift point. The housing and eyebolt are a single piece, allowing for a stronger and safer blowout preventer. In embodiments, the lift point is orthogonal to a top plate of the housing. The cast eyebolts can be designed to support at least 5000 pounds of weight. In embodiments, anchor shackles can be used in conjunction with the cast eyebolts for lifting the blowout preventer.

Additionally, when ram style blowout preventers are employed, the potential for injury to personnel or fouling of the ram mechanism exists in certain configurations. The present disclosure makes use of a screen to prevent personnel from being injured (such as by getting fingers pinched by the ram mechanism) or from foreign objects from fouling the ram mechanism.

Turning now to the Figures, the disclosed features on embodiments of the blowout preventer are shown.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a blowout preventer, FIG. 2 is a side view of a blowout preventer, FIG. 3 is a side view of a blowout preventer, FIG. 4 is a top view of a blowout preventer, FIG. 5 is a top view of a blowout preventer, FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a blowout preventer, FIG. 7 is a cut view of a blowout preventer, FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a blowout preventer, FIG. 9 is a side view of a blowout preventer, FIG. 10 is a side view of a blowout preventer, and FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a blowout preventer, wherein all Figures are according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure.

Referring to FIGS. 1-11, blowout preventers 100 a and 100 b, a single and double blowout preventer, are shown respectively.

Shown here are a housing 104 with integrally cast eyebolts 110. Anchor shackles 112 can be used in conjunction with the eyebolts 110 for lifting and positioning the blowout preventer 100.

The pipe and/or wellbore to be sealed in the event of an emergency can be passed through an annulus 106. Hydraulic operator assembly 114 can comprise a hydraulic operator 116, which can be used to operate a cylinder 120, which in turn can operate a ram 122.

A screen 118 can be fitted onto the hydraulic operator 116 to prevent injuries to personnel or foreign objects from interfering with the hydraulic operator assembly 114.

While the disclosure emphasizes the presented embodiments and Figures, it should be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the disclosure may be embodied other than as specifically enabled herein. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A blowout preventer comprising a housing, wherein the housing comprises a top plate with an integral cast eyebolt for lifting the blowout preventer.
 2. The blowout preventer of claim 1, wherein the integral cast eyebolt is orthogonal to the top plate of the housing.
 3. The blowout preventer of claim 1, wherein the top plate is integrally cast with a bottom plate and at least two side plates.
 4. The blowout preventer of claim 1, further comprising a hydraulic operator assembly.
 5. The blowout preventer of claim 4, wherein the hydraulic operator assembly comprises a screen on the hydraulic operator preventing the entry of foreign objects. 